freesat

YouTube, the Google-owned video-sharing website, is to launch on British free-to-air television for the first time after agreeing a deal with Freesat.

Built using web technology HTML 5, the YouTube service on Freesat will be optimised for the television, offering a visually rich and interactive viewing experience.

By the end of next month, customers of the BBC and ITV-backed satellite TV service will get access to YouTube via the Freesat programming guide.

They will be able to watch a range of user-generated content, and videos from the original channels introduced to YouTube over the past year.

YouTube is already available on Virgin Media’s TiVo service and a range of connected TV sets, but this is the first time that it has been officially offered on a subscription-free UK television platform.

Earlier this month we brought you news of the BGT3620 – a new single tuner card. Now BlackGold have announced a new dual tuner card – the BGT3600.

Here is what BlackGold are saying:

Anticipated release June / July 2011

The BGT3600 is the world’s premium multi-channel hybrid tuner, digital demodulator, analogue capture, intelligent remote PCI-express PCTV product, implemented on a miniature platform. The product is capable of receiving standard and high definition digital broadcast program content, including the new UK Freeview and Freesat HD channels. It is designed to transform a personal computer into the ultimate audio video entertainment system, supporting external video streams and worldwide HD broadcast streams.
Hardware receiver support – world standard analogue terrestrial (PAL, NTSC, CECAM), dual digital terrestrial including both DVB-T and DVB-T2, dual digital satellite DVB-S and DVB-S2, digital cable DVB-C.
Hardware external video – Composite video CVBS, S-video, Component video YPbPr, Component video RGB
Hardware remote – IR remote receiver, learning receiver, remote S3 wake-up (OEM special order only, not with standard product. This is an option if a system builder requires a remote control other than the normal Microsoft Media Center remote USB IR sensor used for most systems)
Hardware profile – Miniature profile solution exceptionally low real estate, supporting compact half height and full height PC systems. (131mm x 69mm PCB outline including PCI-e fingers)
The BGT3600 is the perfect Windows 7 Media Center and other high end PVR application TV partner. No other product in this class provides the extensive support for Media Center of the BGT3600:
1. 32 and 64 bit Broadcast Driver Architecture (BDA) WHQL drivers
2. Infra Red remote control including S3 wakeup from remote control (OEM special order only, not with standard product. This is an option if a system builder requires a remote control other than the normal Microsoft Media Center remote used for most systems. It is not required by most users and is only available for high volume special order. Windows S3 Wake-up is standard on ALL BlackGold products and is not dependant on the BlackGold Remote.)
3. Special Media Center support for tuning and scanning of DVB-C channels
4. External video equipment connection via an audio/video adapter cable supporting composite video –yellow phono connector, S video – mini DIN connector, component RGB video – red/green/blue phono connectors and stereo audio – red/white phono connectors

The product has been architected to allow simultaneous management of four broadcast program streams. Hardware tuner and demodulator technology supports the detection, receiving and processing of HD terrestrial and HD satellite streams. The driver pack design allows operation with the broadest selection of PVR and Media Center applications; permitting the viewing, pausing and recording of multiple programs – dependent on the flexibility of the application multiple programs – dependent on the flexibility of the application.
UK operation supports all available Free-To-Air channels
All Freeview digital terrestrial (DVB-T & T2) TV and radio channels
All available analogue terrestrial TV channels.

Supports reception of all Freesat channels, supports reception of DVB-S/S2 standard and high definition transport streams from any world location.

Rock solid reliability – BlackGold is an accredited Microsoft development partner and provides Microsoft compliant drivers.
The world’s smallest and only (dual DVB-T/T2 plus DVB-S/S2) half height card design enables this product to grace even the smallest and sleekest entertainment PC’s.
Supplied with interchangeable half and full height brackets to accommodate all PC enclosure types.
The supplied Microsoft compliant BGT3600 driver supports both the 32 bit, and for those requiring the ultimate performance, 64 bit versions of Windows 7, Vista and XP.
The BDA driver supports multiple BGT3620 card installations.

Note: DVB-T2 is not yet available in all UK areas. It will be rolled out over the next two years. Check with DTG to see when it will be available in your area.

Expected availability week commencing 18/07/2011

I know I want one! How about you?

[button link=”http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT3159/Products/BGT3600″ style=”info” window=”yes”]Learn more from the BlackGold website[/button]

Here at UWHS towers, we got a large box arrive that contained the EchoStar HDS-600RS digital video recorder with Freesat+ and SlingLoaded TV anwhere. So lots to play with in a single unit. Here is the unboxing.

EchoStar Europe, a leading developer of added value, connected device solutions to the digital television industry, announce their SlingLoaded® HDS-600RS, the world’s first HD digital video recorder (DVR) to combine Freesat+ features with Sling Media’s unique place-shifting ability, enabling TV anywhere, on all popular smartphones and tablets*.

The SlingLoaded feature enables users to watch and manage their live and recorded TV remotely anytime, anywhere, via 3G or Wi-Fi, with no additional monthly fees. With Freesat+, viewers get over 150 digital channels, including HD, On Demand services and the ability to pause, rewind and record TV, all subscription free. There‟s seamless access to catch-up TV including BBC iPlayer, with other connected TV services including ITV Net Player to follow.

Once connected to home broadband, the EchoStar HDS-600RS will Sling live or recorded TV anywhere, to your iPhone®, iPad® or Android™ smartphones or tablets, and any device supported by SlingPlayer®Mobile even to your Mac® or PC via SlingPlayer® (which can be accessed for free, online at www.uk.slingbox.com). This ensures that you’ll never miss a moment of your favourite show, movie or sports event ever again. Throughout your home or around the world, you can truly Sling your TV anywhere.

The EchoStar HDS-600RS delivers a host of viewing options; ‘live pause and rewind’ simultaneously watch one show and record another, and one touch series-link via the High Definition (HD) Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) all ensure that you’ll never miss a show! The 500GB hard disk drive provides huge capacity to record up to 300 hours of Standard Definition (SD) programming or up to 100 hours of HD programming. You can even connect to a compatible Dolby® Digital home cinema amplifier, using the integrated Digital Audio Port, allowing you to enjoy cinema quality sound at home. All this is packaged in a stylish unit with a touch sensitive display.

What’s in the Box?

The unit itself, plus manuals and guides, a remote control and various cables.

This looks like a very cool device – lots of capabilities with lots of potential.

A new network tuner called the EyeTV Netstream Sat is being launched from Elgato that promised playback to multiple devices, include the Apple iPad.

Watch and record free-to-view satellite television on any Mac or PC in the house, in full HD. If your home has an existing Wi-Fi network, you can watch live satellite TV wirelessly on a portable computer anywhere in your home or garden.

EyeTV Netstream Sat enables your entire family to share one TV tuner device, and it delivers a high-definition TV picture to every room. There’s no need to connect a satellite dish and TV tuner dongle to each computer! Simply place EyeTV Netstream Sat near your existing satellite connection and connect it to your router. EyeTV Netstream Sat receives DVB-S2 and streams the TV signal via your Ethernet or home Wi-Fi network.

Highlights

Stream free-to-view satellite TV (DVB-S2 or Freesat) to the computers on your home network

Watch TV wirelessly on a portable computer or iPad if you have a Wi-Fi network

Stream live TV over the home network to an iPad – even when your computers are turned off

As a network device, it does not have to be installed near your computers

Here is the press release:

Satellite TV on any Mac, PC or iPad in your home network

Munich, 10 November 2010 – Elgato announced today the new EyeTV Netstream Sat, a network tuner for free-to-view satellite TV. EyeTV Netstream Sat streams the signal, live and in HD, from a satellite dish to any computer in the house. It connects to your existing satellite feed and sends the TV signal through your router. If you have a Wi-Fi Network, even iPads can access standard definition channels from EyeTV Netstream Sat. This direct connection between the network tuner and an iOS4 device (requires iOS4.2) requires the new version of the EyeTV app, (version 1.2, available in the App Store). This EyeTV app feature also works with the hugely successful DVB-T version of the network tuner, EyeTV Netstream DTT. EyeTV Netstream Sat ships on November 22 at a price of 199,95 Euro (£189,95 GBP). A dual-tuner add-on is sold separately.

Live satellite TV on the iPad

The newly announced version 1.2 of the EyeTV App enables both EyeTV Netstream Sat and EyeTV Netstream DTT to stream SD channels over the local Wi-Fi network directly to iOS 4 devices (requires iOS4.2). DVB-S2 HDTV channels can be streamed via Wi-Fi or 3G/UMTS Internet

connection provided a Mac with Elgato’s EyeTV 3 TV software is running as a local streaming server.

Easy to set-up and use
EyeTV Netstream Sat integrates well with your existing network. You can stream live TV, surf the web, and send email all at the same time. An intelligent device, EyeTV Netstream Sat offers centralized configuration via web browser and auto-discovery via UPnP & Bonjour.

Works great on Macs and PCs
Included is EyeTV 3, Elgato’s award-winning TV software for the Mac. Watch, record, edit and enjoy live television on your Mac. Search two weeks of Program Guide listings, and export recordings automatically to iTunes to sync with Apple devices. EyeTV Netstream DTT works with Windows 7 Media Center and also includes THC software for Windows, which offers many of the same features as EyeTV 3.

Turn EyeTV Netstream Sat into a dual-tuner
Elgato’s new EyeTV Sat Free, a great value USB 2.0 TV tuner for DVB-S2, has the unique ability to turn EyeTV Netstream Sat into a dual-tuner. EyeTV Sat Free connects to the USB port on the back of EyeTV Netstream Sat, enabling it to stream a second TV channel to computers in the home network.

System requirements
EyeTV Netstream Sat requires a Macintosh Computer with an Intel Core CPU and Mac OS X v10.5.8 or newer. On PCs, EyeTV Netstream Sat requires Windows 7 and a 2.0 GHz Intel/AMD CPU or better. Network bandwidth must be high enough to allow for streaming of television signals (100Base-T Ethernet, 802.11n for wireless). Direct streaming to EyeTV for iPhone requires an iPad, an iPhone 4 or an iPod touch (4th generation.) A Mac or a PC is required for initial setup of EyeTV Netstream tuners.

Pricing & Availability
EyeTV Netstream Sat ships on November 22nd at a suggested retail price of 199,95 Euro (£189,95 GBP) including VAT. EyeTV Sat Free ships in January 2011 at a suggested retail price of 99,95 Euro (£89,95 GBP) including VAT. You can buy direct from Elgato at www.elgato.com or most Mac retailers. The EyeTV app version 1.2 is available at the App Store for 3,99 Euro. The app update is free of charge.

About Elgato
Elgato produces award-winning TV software together with a complete range of TV tuners and capture devices to watch, record, and edit TV and HDTV on Macs and PCs. Elgato is the home of EyeTV, the world’s leading television solution for Mac computers. Elgato also produces a variety of world-class H.264 video conversion and streaming products. Elgato is privately held with offices in Munich, Germany and San Francisco, California.

You can learn more about the EyeTV Netstream Sat from the Elgato website.